Extreme events in Mexico: Impacts on public health and development

Abstract

Scientific literature has established that climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme events. Extreme events, in turn, may cause disasters and impacts on health. This chapter presents an overview of the effects climate change is expected to have in Mexico through extreme events. In a nutshell, EE such as drought, forest fires, hurricanes and frosts have increased over recent years and further intensification is yet to be expected. Furthermore, these events have impacts, some health-wise, some economic, and others in terms of future economic performance. In the case of Mexico, many of these impacts have not been systematically measured. The goal of this paper is therefore to establish the links between extreme events in Mexico and the health impacts and other costs imposed, particularly those related to the loss of infrastructure and economic performance, and their impact on regional development.